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Sports

Lady Bobcats Run By Northwest Catholic

Brookfield gets impressive first round victory in Class L Tournament.

The Brookfield girls basketball team was bumped up from Class M to Class L following last season's run to . In their first round matchup against No. 18 Northwest Catholic (11-10) played at Brookfield High School, the No. 15 Lady Bobcats (14-7) made a good first impression by running out to a 62-45 win.

“We’ve heard a lot that it’s really tough,” senior captain Jamie Bickelhaupt said of facing the tougher competition. “So we’re bringing our A-game every game.”

Sophomore Julia DePoi continued her hot hand in the post-season, getting Brookfield off to a fast start by scoring 10 first quarter points. She capped off her fast start by knocking down a three-pointer to help the Lady Bobcats take a 19-16 lead into the second quarter against the hot shooting team from West Hartford who connected from three-point land four times in the opening frame.

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“As a sophomore she’s stepped up big,” Brookfield head coach Maura Keenan said of DePoi, who has scored in double figures in all three post-season games so far. “She battled a few health issues this year, she seems to be hitting her stride now in the post-season. I’m very happy with her, it really opens up our post and gives us some offensive threats.”

In the second quarter Brookfield’s trademark defense slowed down the Lady Indians while their offense kept going. Seniors Kerry Fleming and Moe Vetter both got into the act, connecting from three-point land. Fleming scored all of her seven points in the quarter as the Lady Bobcats outscored Northwest Catholic 17-8 to pull ahead to a 36-24 halftime lead.

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Senior captain Krista Melchione, a low-post player, showed off her ball-handling skills late in the second quarter. Melchione led a fast-break that led to a rebound put back score by junior Tara Schang in the final seconds that had the home crowd cheering.

“Our coach came in at halftime and said our post players are beating them down the court, that’s a scary occurrence,” Melchione said of her coaches reaction. “It was really exciting at the same time.”

Melchione wasn’t done running the break. In the second half, Brookfield continued its intense defensive pressure, causing turnovers and missed shots. The Lady Bobcats then turned their defense into instant offense as they pushed the tempo with Melchione handling the rock, leading to an 11-3 run to start the third quarter.

“Tonight we scored a lot in transition which was helpful,”  Keenan said.  “I think this was if not the best, the second best game we’ve played this year. We finally shot well, that’s one of the advantages of having a home game.”

Looking to stay aggressive, Brookfield also decided to pound the ball inside to Bickelhaupt, their other low-post player. Bickelhaupt, who scored five points in the first quarter run, came up big in the third quarter as the team pulled away. She scored seven of the 11 points in the run that gave the Lady Bobcats a commanding 47-27 lead.

“I’m very excited,” Bickelhaupt said. “I’m glad this team could pull out the first round of states. This tram really came together this game and pulled out one of the best games we’ve ever played so we’re excited to go on.”

Brookfield continued to get out and run while working the ball inside in the fourth quarter. The team worked its way to the foul line, salting the game away by converting 11 of 14 free throw attempts in the final frame.

“I’ve had them for four years and it’s been a real treat,” Keenan said of the tandem of Bicklehaupt and Melchione. “Together they are a combination that I will take any day. They are unselfish players. When you double Jamie she always finds Krista, they’ve been playing together since they were seven or eight. I said to them before the last game, ‘The best part of you is each other.’”

Bickelhaupt wound up leading the team with 19 points and nine rebounds. DePoi totaled 15 points and five rebounds. Vetter scored 10 points while dishing out four assists and Melchione scored six points while grabbing seven rebounds.

The game was the last home game of the year for Brookfield, who will now have to hit the road to see what Class L is made of.

“It’s amazing to come out and play our last game like we did today,” Melchione said. “To come together as a team and everybody step up and do what they did, it’s a great feeling.”

The Lady Bobcats are matched up with No. 2 E.O. Smith (19-2), who only lost one game during the regular season but were knocked out in the opening round of their conference tournament.

“If we can step up like we did tonight and our shooters have a good game and our post-players have a good game, I feel like we can pull out a win,” Melchione said of the team's chances, also adding that defense would be a key factor. “Defense wins games, I believe that 100 percent and for us that’s definitely what it’s about.”

They will get their chance to make an even bigger impression on Thursday night when they travel to Storrs to face the Lady Panthers.

“Class L is a whole other league,” Keenan said of making the jump.  “E.O. Smith is a serious challenge for us going forward.  We’re going to come up with some kind of game plan in the next two days and this is what March madness is about.”

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